Our heartfelt sympathies go to all those who are suffering as a result of the terrorist atrocities recently perpetrated in Paris and Beirut, and to all those around the world suffering daily as a result of senseless acts of violence carried out in the name of perverted understandings of religions. In light of current reports of a jihadist motive for the latest Paris attacks, our thoughts and prayers are not only with the victims of these attacks and their friends and families, but also with Muslims worldwide. We share your horror at seeing innocent people slaughtered in the name of the religion you cherish. We are mindful too of the fact that many more Muslims than non-Muslims have been killed by ISIS and related organisations, and that it is such organisations that are responsible for the death of so many of the refugees attempting to reach the safety of our borders.

We must not grant terrorists the victory of allowing their barbaric acts to set us against each other. Now, more than ever, it is vital that good people of all religions and none stand together in solidarity to profess our shared humanity and our commitment to peace, freedom, and compassion. We live at a time when forces of ignorance and hatred seek to destroy these values in our society: only by refusing to let fear and suspicion hold sway will we protect them. On Sunday we will celebrate the beginning of Scottish Interfaith Week―a period in which people from across Scotland will reach out to each other to build bridges of friendship and understanding.

In solidarity with our friends across the Channel and all those suffering in these troubled times, let us continue to work together for a more humane world.